The future's bright, so give us a Kiss

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Utter utter shite. That's the most half assed performance I'v seen from Ulster in a very long time. Almost like they couldn't give a toss or were out on the lash last night.

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Ridiculous amounts. And Paddy Jackson who was the most accurate kicker in Europe by the end of round 6 missed a couple of sitters. It was a performance which barely even reached the dizzy heights of half assed. I'd say we were complacent but most of that team hasn't been involved in the recent victories. It was utterly shameful. I'm still angry.

[Tre]

Utter utter shite. That's the most half assed performance I'v seen from Ulster in a very long time. Almost like they couldn't give a toss or were out on the lash last night.

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Ridiculous amounts. And Paddy Jackson who was the most accurate kicker in Europe by the end of round 6 missed a couple of sitters. It was a performance which barely even reached the dizzy heights of half assed. I'd say we were complacent but most of that team hasn't been involved in the recent victories. It was utterly shameful. I'm still angry.

Definitely not one for the ages, we went less shit for the last ten and that was the difference.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Ridiculous amounts. And Paddy Jackson who was the most accurate kicker in Europe by the end of round 6 missed a couple of sitters. It was a performance which barely even reached the dizzy heights of half assed. I'd say we were complacent but most of that team hasn't been involved in the recent victories. It was utterly shameful. I'm still angry.

Definitely not one for the ages, we went less shit for the last ten and that was the difference.

Aye.

[Spiffy]

Utter utter shite. That's the most half assed performance I'v seen from Ulster in a very long time. Almost like they couldn't give a toss or were out on the lash last night.

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Sadly, for several members of that Ulster team, their balls have not yet dropped.

[Tre]

Utter utter shite. That's the most half assed performance I'v seen from Ulster in a very long time. Almost like they couldn't give a toss or were out on the lash last night.

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Sadly, for several members of that Ulster team, their balls have not yet dropped.

Nice.

I thought Tom James was the quickest man on the pitch (after Patchell) and I'm looking forward to Nick Williams turning out for Cardiff next year. He did this pass/offload out of the back of his hand right in front of where I was stood.... The thigh supports for being lifted in the lineout he wears seems a bit optimistic mind.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

INJURY UPDATE
29 February 2016 18:19pm
By Richard Finlay
Injury update
Ulster Rugby received a fitness boost today with news that Tommy Bowe and Iain Henderson are likely to be available for selection before the end of the season.

A full injury update is outlined below:

Sammy Arnold
Sammy suffered a low grade tear to his right hamstring during Sunday's match against Cardiff Blues. He will be sidelined for approximately two to three weeks as a result of this injury.

Tommy Bowe
Tommy suffered a posterior cruciate ligament injury (which required reconstructive surgery) whilst representing Ireland at the Rugby World Cup in September. He is making excellent progress ahead of a further review with his surgeon this week.

Willie Faloon
Willie has been struggling with a chronic midfoot injury and he will see a specialist for a review. A prognosis will be available following this appointment.

Iain Henderson
Iain suffered a significant hamstring tear (left leg) against Edinburgh in December. Following surgery, he has continued to progress well through his rehabilitation and is likely to be involved in Ulster's Guinness PRO12 run-in.

Wiehahn Herbst
Wiehahn suffered a significant ligament injury to his Great toe against Saracens in January. He is progressing well, however further reassessment will be required to determine his availability for the remainder of the season.

Rob Herring
Rob picked up a hamstring injury two weeks ago. It is hoped he will be fully fit for the Zebre match this Friday.

Ian Humphreys
Ian picked up a hip / back injury in training last week and he was unavailable for the trip to Cardiff. He remains doubtful for Friday's game.

Louis Ludik
Louis is responding well to treatment for a recent adductor strain. He will not be involved this weekend; however he is expected to be fully fit for Glasgow fixture on 25th March.

Luke Marshall
Luke suffered a left ankle injury in Cardiff. He will have a fitness test later this week to determine if he will play against Zebre.

Paul Marshall
Paul has fully recovered from a viral infection and is back in full training. He is therefore available for selection this weekend.

Peter Nelson
Peter dislocated his left midfoot in the win over Edinburgh in early December. He had successful surgery later that month but he will play no further part in Ulster's PRO12 season due to the significance of the injury.

Alan O'Connor
Alan has overcome a viral infection and is available for selection again.

Dan Tuohy
Dan suffered a significant ankle fracture during the Edinburgh match in December. Whilst the fracture has healed well, there has been inconsistent progress through his rehabilitation and as such, he is scheduled to have exploratory surgery. A return to play date will be determined following this.

Nick Williams
Nick has a slight shoulder injury that is being monitored. A decision on his availability for the Zebre fixture will be made later in the week.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Lots of dropped balls from both teams. You expect it from us, but Ulster dropped the ball a lot.

Sadly, for several members of that Ulster team, their balls have not yet dropped.

Nice.

I thought Tom James was the quickest man on the pitch (after Patchell) and I'm looking forward to Nick Williams turning out for Cardiff next year. He did this pass/offload out of the back of his hand right in front of where I was stood.... The thigh supports for being lifted in the lineout he wears seems a bit optimistic mind.

He's a very useful player when he's on it. He's a pie-eating lump when he's not. Perhaps worth the risk but he's definitely a risk.

[Tre]

Sadly, for several members of that Ulster team, their balls have not yet dropped.

Nice.

I thought Tom James was the quickest man on the pitch (after Patchell) and I'm looking forward to Nick Williams turning out for Cardiff next year. He did this pass/offload out of the back of his hand right in front of where I was stood.... The thigh supports for being lifted in the lineout he wears seems a bit optimistic mind.

He's a very useful player when he's on it. He's a pie-eating lump when he's not. Perhaps worth the risk but he's definitely a risk.

Unfortunately I think our teams are in a financial position where we have to take risks like him and Ma'afu.

[Spiffy]

Nice.

I thought Tom James was the quickest man on the pitch (after Patchell) and I'm looking forward to Nick Williams turning out for Cardiff next year. He did this pass/offload out of the back of his hand right in front of where I was stood.... The thigh supports for being lifted in the lineout he wears seems a bit optimistic mind.

He's a very useful player when he's on it. He's a pie-eating lump when he's not. Perhaps worth the risk but he's definitely a risk.

Unfortunately I think our teams are in a financial position where we have to take risks like him and Ma'afu.

Fat Nick is having his best year for Ulster. He is not the penalty machine he once was and he's using the ball more intelligently. He is an immense carrier. Sorry to see him go. Think he'll do well at Cardiff.

[laribold]

So Rory Scholes has signed for Embra on a 2-year deal.

What's the Ulster take on that?

I have to confess that I don't really know him, but given he's signed for Embra as a winger there is a potential he doesn't really like the sight of a rugby ball.

[BBD]

He doesn't get many runs out, he's fairly young and the Ulster back line has a fair bit of talent already
But scholes has pace and a good step, he is a good prospect and the move away will be good for him I reckon.
Good signing, better than some journeyman looking for a bank raid

[Eugene Wrayburn]

He doesn't get many runs out, he's fairly young and the Ulster back line has a fair bit of talent already
But scholes has pace and a good step, he is a good prospect and the move away will be good for him I reckon.
Good signing, better than some journeyman looking for a bank raid

So Rory Scholes has signed for Embra on a 2-year deal.

What's the Ulster take on that?

I have to confess that I don't really know him, but given he's signed for Embra as a winger there is a potential he doesn't really like the sight of a rugby ball.

I'd say he's more Tommy Seymour than Michael Irwin. Good player but stuck behind better and likely to be so for at least the next couple of years.

[Peat]

When I first heard that Scholes was leaving Ulster I was livid and to a certain extent I still am. I think he's one hell of a prospect, but given that we have Trimble until 2017, Bowe until 2018, and D4 will doubtless dictate they play, there's only so much game time he could get at Ulster, even before considering Gilroy/Ludik/Piutau. He needs game time, so good luck to him and just remember, if he goes at all well, his contract expires when Bowe's does so expected Ulster to try and bring him back. Personally, on form, I think he'd bury Bowe's career and maybe Trimble's too if D4 wasn't interfering and he was staying, and given that he's more of a Schmidt-winger than Gilroy, might surpass him too.

As a player - he's quick, got a fair bit of size and aggression to him, nice step, big boot (place kicked as a school boy) and I can't recall him getting caught out on positioning or decision making. Can allegedly play full-back too.

Warning - This is his break out season, so next season should be when all his concealed flaws catch up with him, so he's probably not quite as good as I'm making out... but he can definitely play and he could be really damn good.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

ULSTER RUGBY SQUAD UPDATE
29 March 2016 10:43am
By Ulster Rugby
squad update
Ahead of the Guinness PRO12 Round 19 game at home to Connacht on Friday night (7:35pm kick off), the Ulster Rugby medical team has provided the following update:

Returning to play

Rory Best, Andrew Trimble and Jared Payne have recovered from low grade injuries and they are available for selection this week.

Unavailable for Connacht fixture

Alan O'Connor dislocated his right shoulder whilst playing against Glasgow at Scotstoun last weekend. He will see a shoulder specialist later this week to determine whether the injury will require surgery.

Nick Williams suffered a left groin injury and aggravated a left shoulder injury playing against Glasgow. He will not be fit for selection this week.

Ian Humphreys is currently rehabilitating a back injury and his return to play is being assessed on a weekly basis.

Louis Ludik is suffering from an ongoing right groin injury. He is unlikely to be available for selection this week.

Tommy Bowe continues end-stage rehabilitation for his knee injury. His likely return to play date is being assessed on a weekly basis.

Ruaidhri Murphy continues to recover from a finger injury and is unfit for selection this week.

Sammy Arnold re-aggravated a hamstring tear during training last week. His return to play is estimated at 4-6 weeks.

Wiehahn Herbst continues to rehab his toe injury. He is likely to return to play in 4-6 weeks.

Andrew Warwick and Mark Best were unable to train today due to illness. A number of players on the squad have been affected by this respiratory virus and a decision on their fitness to play will be determined later in the week.

Unavailable for the remainder of the 2015/16 season

Peter Nelson continues to rehabilitate from an ankle injury sustained against Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium. His return to play status remains as the 2016/17 season.

Dan Tuohy had surgery two weeks ago for his ongoing ankle injury. He is recovering well post-surgery.

Willie Faloon had surgery two weeks ago for a chronic mid-foot injury and will not play again this season.

[Peat]

Is anyone monitoring the amount of injuries each P12 squad gets? I feel like we've been harder than most for a lot of seasons, but that could well be bias.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Is anyone monitoring the amount of injuries each P12 squad gets? I feel like we've been harder than most for a lot of seasons, but that could well be bias.

Aye. I posted that because it feels like utter carnage, particularly this year.

[Peat]

News just in, IRFU are idiotic wankers.

Oh wait...

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Who the feck do they think we're going to sign? No one else is getting a foreign scrum half are they? In which case what makes them think there are 4-8 HC level IQ scrum halves?

[Peat]

Leinster have one in that Kiwi project lad but thats it.

[mcshinnertheligind]

FECK

[BBD]

Team to put the Dragons to the sword tomorrow night

Ulster team and replacements to play Newport Gwent Dragons, Friday 2nd September, Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm):
(15-9): C Piutau; C Gilroy, S Olding, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Herron, R Pienaar;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring (captain), R Kane, P Browne, F van der Merwe, C Ross, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, K McCall, A Warwick, A O'Connor, R Diack, P Marshall, S Windsor, R Lyttle.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

15 looks a bit of a weak link!

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Team to put the Dragons to the sword tomorrow night

Ulster team and replacements to play Newport Gwent Dragons, Friday 2nd September, Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm):
(15-9): C Piutau; C Gilroy, S Olding, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Herron, R Pienaar;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring (captain), R Kane, P Browne, F van der Merwe, C Ross, S Reidy, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): J Andrew, K McCall, A Warwick, A O'Connor, R Diack, P Marshall, S Windsor, R Lyttle.

that's a handy enough side for this time of the seasonwith the Intenrationals not fully back and an ongoing injury problem.

[BBD]

If you ever speak a word of it, I'll deny it but I'm really looking forward to this match on the box this evening



I feel dirty now

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Feck! I know its only September, but ye'll be after needing yer bath for that disgusting admission.